Quicksand Fans

I have been wanting to make a mud pit outside for a long time and came here to ask for help. I will be using Kentucky OM-4 Ball Clay in a pit that might measure 10ft long x 9ft wide x 4ft deep (I am unsure about this size, the pit is just for myself.). This there anything I should know about making a mud pit?

I cannot speak from personal experience, alas, but some questions come to mind:
Is this for personal sinking/use only?
What sort of climate will it be located in?
Do you intend to use it year-round? That means heat, which means cost.
Privacy?

Others, whom have actually made such a pit, may offer practical advice.

Best wishes!

hdoo_33 wrote:I have been wanting to make a mud pit outside for a long time and came here to ask for help. I will be using Kentucky OM-4 Ball Clay in a pit that might measure 10ft long x 9ft wide x 4ft deep (I am unsure about this size, the pit is just for myself.). This there anything I should know about making a mud pit?

The pit size you mention is 360 cubic feet, which is a little more than double the volume of the clay pit at my Studio. If you were using bentonite clay I would estimate it would take between 300 and 350 bags, each 50 pounds dry. However, bentonite swells several times in volume when it gets wet which is something I don't thing the ball clay does, so I would guess you will need something on the order of 900 to 1000 bags. My arithmetic may be faulty but you are looking at some money.

I will be using Kentucky OM-4 Ball Clay, not bentonite. I think I will try making the pit a more reasonable size (thinking 7ftx7ftx4ft or 7ftx6ftx4ft) as it is just for myself. The pit will be in my backyard surrounded by fences (I don't know what I should use to hide the pit from others.) and I will be using it year-round for a long time, so I also want to know how to heat up and maintain the pit. But how would I actually make the pit?

hdoo_33 wrote:I will be using Kentucky OM-4 Ball Clay, not bentonite. I think I will try making the pit a more reasonable size (thinking 7ftx7ftx4ft or 7ftx6ftx4ft) as it is just for myself. The pit will be in my backyard surrounded by fences (I don't know what I should use to hide the pit from others.) and I will be using it year-round for a long time, so I also want to know how to heat up and maintain the pit. But how would I actually make the pit?

Dig hole, put in a liner, fill part way with water, add your clay a little at a time.

Fred588 wrote:

hdoo_33 wrote:I will be using Kentucky OM-4 Ball Clay, not bentonite. I think I will try making the pit a more reasonable size (thinking 7ftx7ftx4ft or 7ftx6ftx4ft) as it is just for myself. The pit will be in my backyard surrounded by fences (I don't know what I should use to hide the pit from others.) and I will be using it year-round for a long time, so I also want to know how to heat up and maintain the pit. But how would I actually make the pit?

Dig hole, put in a liner, fill part way with water, add your clay a little at a time.

Thanks, how would I hide the pit from others and heat up or maintain the pit?

hdoo_33 wrote:

Fred588 wrote:Dig hole, put in a liner, fill part way with water, add your clay a little at a time.

Thanks, how would I hide the pit from others and heat up or maintain the pit?

Search for 'heating'

I made a batch of ball clay in a large pale. It sat in my shed and froze over the winter. It separated into water and small chunks. I have not tried to whip it back up to see if it can be cured. Something to be aware of.

I also made a bentonite batch that sat over winter in a pale and it came out ok.

I have abandoned my plan to make a home mud pit. Mainly because I am going to move in a few years. I put a lot of time and money into it. I have 3 or so locations which are relatively private and neck deep so I am not feeling a serious loss. Now I have to find a place to get rid of 3 - 50 lb bags of bentonite and 2 - 25 lb bags of ball clay. I might take it to my locations and infuse it into the mud there. Its just clay.

mud_dreamer